I Tried acnedote™ Pimple Patches & Here’s What They Did to My Acne

Whether you have a big, irritating zit or pesky little spot, acne is never ideal. I have what I would consider pretty common acne: the occasional pimple and a stubborn set of blackheads that no pore-strip can seem to conquer. Acne is generally a result of hormones, hereditary factors and stress (especially the stress), but the good news is that successful products and regimens exist out there to help nourish your skin and reduce bumps.

Let me make one thing clear: Attacking your skin with harmful acids that burn or exfoliants that leave your skin raw is not the right approach. But showing your skin some basic kindness with soft, soothing products will go a long way! I’m on a constant quest to find more acne-curing products my skin adores, so this week I tested out acnedote™ Pimple Patches from Alba Botanica®.

acnedote™ from Alba Botanica® is actually an entire skincare regimen that works to keep skin clear and beautiful. It uses plant-based ingredients to gently address problematic skin, so you don’t have to worry about irritation. The whole line includes a cleanser, on-the-go towelettes, a scrub, astringent, oil-free moisturizer, a peel, and spot-treatments. It’s basically every skincare treat you could ever want, all in one totally affordable and botanically-based collection. I was already in the acnedote™ Face & Body Scrub fan club (it targets all-over acne, not just your face), so testing out the pimple patches was obviously high on my beauty bucket list.

Here’s how it went down.

Alba Botanica® works under one impactful, positive message: to Do Good, Do Beautiful. You can see this in all the body-loving products that nourish the skin, all the while respecting nature and the planet. Just like every other product in the acnecdote™ line, the patches are 100 percent vegetarian. No animal-testing, no parabens, no synthetic fragrances, no harsh sulfates, and no artificial colors. Plus, everything is biodegradable, so you can feel extra good about your beauty routine.

Key ingredients in the pimple patches are tea tree oil, witch hazel, and salicylic acid. How do the patches work their magic? Each patch draws fluid and oils away from the skin and underlying blemish, reducing inflammation. But don’t worry, the patch’s tight seal helps keep skin moist to encourage faster healing, which means you can say bye-bye to that blemish, like, so fast.

Here’s what happened.

When you open the box of patches, it almost looks like a cute little band-aid strip filled with tiny translucent dots. The patches come in small and larger sizes depending on the mass of the pimple you’re treating. The first night I used these, I had two little (but painful) zits on my nose, and thin red ones on each cheek. After cleaning my skin thoroughly, I put a larger patch on my nose to cover both bumps, and a small patch on each cheek.

The directions recommend leaving on anywhere from one to eight hours, so hoping to get the full effect, I slept with these little beauties on the whole night. They stayed totally in place while I slept, and even more importantly, they kept me from touching my face. I don’t pick, but I definitely touch and pop my pimples – I just can’t help it. Luckily, the barrier prevented me from irritating my spots even further, and it’s also designed to keep bacteria out.

When I took the patches off in the morning, they were easy to remove without any painful pulling or tugging. I could see a little bit of moisture and oil from my skin on the patch, but there wasn’t any residue leftover on my face. By morning, the spots on my cheeks had totally lost their redness and flattened down to nothing. The pimples on my nose were more stubborn, so the next night I put a small patch on each zit, giving them individual attention. When I woke up, they had totally disappeared, and in a matter of 48 hours the zits that had been driving me crazy were no more.

I would recommend these pimple patches to every skincare-obsessive, especially because they’re translucent and totally discreet. You can barely even see the patches placed on my cheeks, and I would feel 100 percent comfortable and low-key wearing these grocery shopping or out on a coffee run. Plus, with no strict time limit for how long you have to wear the patches, this treatment is totally flexible for any schedule, whether you only have an hour before class or a luxurious eight hours to invest on your skin.

With about 10 minutes more each week, you can incorporate acnedote™ from Alba Botanica® into your routine, no problem. You can shop all products in the line here, then just sit back, relax, and watch the incredible results roll in!

Gina is the Associate Editor of Her Campus. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2017, where she studied English and Theater. As an undergrad with Her Campus, Gina was a national contributing writer, first ever national viral editor, editorial intern, and editor-in-chief of her chapter at Cal Poly. In her spare time, Gina enjoys cuddling her friends and family, petting other peoples' dogs, and eating donuts. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ginasescandon.